"We realize that's how we're going to have to play," coach Dave Tippett said. "We don't want to run around crazy to try and be physical. What we want to do is make sure we're playing hard.

"When we have a chance to finish a check, we have to finish a check, but not finishing a check that's going to take you out of position. I think that's one of the ways we have to play to be successful. We'll continue to be physical."

The relentless pursuit seemed to take its toll, especially in the third period as Red Wings defensemen piled up minutes. Tippett said rather than wearing down Detroit, his team began moving better as the game progressed.

"We turned over a lot of pucks and seemed jittery, but as the game went on we got moving a little more and got engaged in the game how I like to see our team play, and I think we could even be better than that."

Detroit's Brian Rafalski logged a little more than 29 minutes, with Nicklas Lidstrom near 28 and Niklas Kronwall about 23.

Coyotes defenseman Derek Morris said the trio is used to playing long minutes, so the secret is to play physical and work hard.

"We've got to make them go a long way," he said. "We've got to make them go 200 feet every single time.

"We can't have them making plays at their blue line and going from there. We've got to get it back in deep and just try to bump them and slow them down."

Doan said the Coyotes realize how talented the Red Wings are, and to have success they have to "make it hard on them."

"Jovo and I talk a lot about how long it's been since we've been there, and we want to make the most of it," he said.

"We know that they (Detroit defensemen) are going to play a lot. We've got to make those minutes as hard as we can because those guys are so talented."

Doan puts Lidstrom among the top few defensemen ever to play in the NHL.

"The guy's . . . such an incredible player and does so many things well, we've got to make his minutes hard, and if you don't he's going to beat you," he said.

Jovanovski stressed players want to be physical but disciplined enough not to take themselves out of plays.

"But I think if there's any time you can get a pop on someone, I think you have to do it, especially their big guns," he said.

"With Lidstrom and Rafalski playing 25 minutes-plus a game, you're not putting them through the boards, but letting them know you're there, and hopefully by the third period it wears on them a little."